Button-die.



No. 663,860. Patented Dec. l8, I900. J. R. BYRNE.

BUTTON DIE.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1898.) I (N0 Modal.) 3 Sh88i8-Sh88i l 27 I5 1 5 (a I was 3 I6 q 2 7 a 5 17 Z witnesses gum/ A. 7%.

"ms NORRIS ums co mom-urns, wAsHmmoN. u c.

B. BYRNE. BUTTON DIE.

(Application filed D904 17, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

F39. q, lvzfnesses fiwenior 63M Qt FAA/L R, rW WV W" (7 1 K Afiorngy TNE Noam: PETERS co. \mmmmmo v WAEHINGTON, or u.

UNITED STATES PATENT Trice.

JOHN R. BYRNE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARVEY WRIGHT, OF MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTON-DIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,860, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed Decemberl7, 1898. SerialNo. 699,551. on model.)

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN R. BYRNE, acitizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Dies, of which the followingis afull, clear, and accurate description, reference being made to the accompa nying drawings, in which like characters designate similar parts in the various figures.

The object of my invention is to produce a button-die which will increase the speed of manufacturing buttons, thus lessening the cost of production. To accomplish this object, I mount two plunger-sleeves of a die in the same head -plate and employ an automatic means of turning this head-plate so that the two plunger -sleeves will first perform separate functions by cooperating with their respective formers and then by means of the automatic turning device will exchange positions and perform similar-functions, only with the plunger-sleeves reversed-that is, two separate functions are performed by each descent of the head-plate, one starting the button and the other finishing it, and no interchange is required by hand, the automatic turning device accomplishing this function.

Thus one operation of the die-press performs twice the usual amount of work.

In the drawings, Figure l is an isometric View of my button-die. Fig. 2 is a top View of the base with the forming-tube and post-sleeve mounted thereon, the turning-post being in section. through the hole through which the turningpost passes, showing said post. Fig. 4: is a vertical section of my button-die. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of a button made thereby. Fig. 6 shows the separate parts of said button in section. Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of my button-die with another attachment. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a button made thereby. Fig. 9 shows the separate parts of said other button in section.

Referring to Fig. 1, we have the base 1, in which are mounted the tube 2 and post-sleeve 3. These parts are centrally mounted upon the tube-center 4 and post 5, respectively. They are held in their upper positions by the coiled springs 6 and 7, respectively, so that the tube and post-sleeve may be pressed down- Fig. 4,) and set-screw 25, as shown.

Fig. 3 is a section of the base,-

ward by the plunger-sleeves 16 and 17, respectively, thus permitting the tubecenter 4 and post 5 to enter the latter, respectively, in the manner well known in dies. The screws 8 and 9 slide up and down in the slots 8 and 9, respectively, the slots thus limiting the extreme positions of the tube 2 and post-sleeve 3.

The base 1 has a U -shaped out in either end by which it may be clamped to the bed-plate (as in Fig. 4B) of a die-press. Between the tube 2 and post-sleeve 3 is a hole in the base, through which passes the turning-post 12,.as shown. On the head-plate 13 are mounted the plunger-shanks 11 and 15, with collars 14 and 15 to take the upward thrust on the dies.

On the pin nger-shan ks 14 and 15 are mounted, respectively, the plungensleeves 16 and 17, which are held up by the latches 1S and 19, respectively. These latches 18 and 19 are mounted in the head-plate 13 by means of the pivots 20 and 21, respectively, and are actuated by the pressure-springs 22 and 23, resp'ectively. These springs are mounted on the ends of the head-plate 13 by screws 13% The turning-post 12 is mounted on the headplate 13 by a screw-threaded shank 24, (see The plunger-shanks 14 and 15 are mounted in the head-plate 13 in the same manner by the setscrews 26 and 27, respectively.

In Fig. 4 is shown the bearing-plate 28, mounted on a punch-holder 34 by means of screws 35 and 36. The bearing-plate and the shank 29 of the head-plate are connected through a ball-bearing, which consists in a circular groove (V-shaped) 30 in the bearingplate 28, with the balls 31 running therein. The circular hardened-steel washer 32 fits over these balls and is screwed fast to the shank 29 of the head-plate 13 by means of the screw To the bearing-plate 28 is rigidly fastened the punch-holder 34:, which fits over the bearing-plate, as shown in Fig. 1. It is held by the screws 35 and 36 and is provided with the screw-threaded shank 37, adapted to be screwed into the slide of a die-press.

The lower end of the turning-post 12 has IOO vertical grooves 38 and 39 on either side, into which project the guiding and sliding rollers 40 and 41, respectively. These rollers are mounted in the hardened-steel bushings 40 be switched off into the spiral grooves, thus die.

turning the post 12 through one hundred and eighty degrees. After this operation each roller comes to rest in the vertical groove opposite the one where it started.

In the-downward movement of the post 12 the rollers will follow their respective vertical grooves and ride over the switching-guides 46 and 47, respectively, the rollers pressing backwardly against the springs 44 and 45.

In Fig. 4 the die is shown screwed to a bedplate 48 by means of bolts 49 and 50. The lever 51 is pivoted in the yoke 52 by means of the pivot 53. It has a heel-piece 54, which strikes against the base of the yoke to prevent the lever from dropping out of position. The bolt 55 holds the yoke 52 to the table 56 and bed 48 of the die-press. The rod 57 rests upon the lever 51 and slides up and down through the table 56 and bed 48 and in the hole 58 of the post or tube-center 4 to throw out the finished button. The lever 51 is worked by the knee of the operator or by some mechanical connection with the press or in any other suitable way.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the butt-on made by this The outside part 60 is of cloth, covering the cap 61, and the edges of the cap are crimped over the back 62, which has the eyelet 63 already attached. The cloth is pinched between the edges of the cap and back, as shown.

In Fig. 7 is shown the attachment which makes the button shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In place ofthe 1 lunger-sleeve 16 anditsshank 14 is fastened the bushing 64, of hardened steel, carrying the loosely-sliding pin 65, with the head 66 to prevent it from dropping out of the bushing. This bushing 64 is held in the hole by the set-screw 26. (Shown in Fig. 1.) Fastened to the lower end 67 of the bushing 64 is the coiled spring 68, its lower end fastened to the piece 69, which slides up and down loosely upon the pin 65.

The button in Figs. 8 and 9 has the cloth cover 70, the cap 71, the back 72, with the hole 73 therein, the inside cloth 74, pressed down through the hole 73, forming the tuft 76, by which the button may be sewed to a garfor the cover of the button.

Upon the cap is placed the disk of cloth 60 When the plunger-sleeve 17 descends, it is held rigidly in place by the latch 19 and the post-sleeve 3 is pressed downward, so that the cover 60 and cap 61 are forced up into the plunger-sleeve 17, the cover fitting snugly over the cap. As the plungensleeve 17 is descending the rollers 40 and 41 ride upward over the switching-guides 46 and 47 in the vertical grooves 38 and 39, respectively, and when the plunger-sleeves ascend the rollers 40 and 41 strikethe switching-guides 46 and 47 and are switched into the spiral grooves 42 and 43, respectively, thus turning the die to its other position. The post-sleeve 3 and post 5 are fed with another cover 60 and cap 61, and into the tube 2 a back 62 is dropped, with the eyelet 63 downward. When the plunger-sleeves l6 and 17 next descend, the first operation is repeated between the post-sleeve 3 and plunger-sleeve 16, while the button first started is finished between plunger-sleeve 17 and tube 2. As the plunger-sleeve 17 descends this second time it meets the tube 2 and the bevel edge 77 hits the rounded corner 78 of the latch 19, disengaging it from the plungersleeve 17 so that the latter is pushed upward on the plunger-shank 15, causing the cover 60 and cap 61 to descend and reston the tube gripped firmly between the edges during this operation and the button is complete. As the plunger-sleeves are again lifted theyswitch around to their first position again, and as they descend plunger-sleeve l6 cooperates.

with tube 2 to finish a second button. In this way each descent of the die completes a button.

The plunger-sleeves are twins, while the lower parts differ, each codperating with both plunger-sleeves successively, but performing different functions.

In Fig. 7 the die makes a different button. The first operation between plunger-sleeve 17 and post-sleeve 3 is the same as that in Fig. 4; but between the tube 2 and the pin the action is different. In the tube 2 is fed a back 72, with the hole 73, and also the inside cloth 79, which forms the tuft 76. As the pin descends under pressure of the bearing-plate 28 the pin 65 presses the cloth 74 through the hole 73, thus forming the tuft 76. While the plunger-sleeve 17 and the pin 65 are ascending, turning around, and descending again the cardboard filling 75 is placed on the cloth 74 and the descending plunger-sleeve 17 completes the button on the tube 2, as before. It takes two operations to finish this button,

IIO

however, as nothing is done between postsleeve 3 and pin during the second operation. To prevent interference here, the bearing-plate 28 contains the hole 81, and the pin 65, striking the post 5, is pressed upward into this hole. The conical spring 82, held friction-tight in the hole 81 against the shoulder 83, insures the quick return of the pin 65 to its normal position, so that it will not interfere with the turning of the head-plate.

Thus it appears that my button-die, with its pin attachment, will make two kinds of buttons. The die, with its attachment, forms a piece of machinery having two separate functions, and to secure this result the several parts are so designed as to cooperate harmoniously. The plungersleeves, head plate, and bearing plate require modifications which would be unnecessary without the pin attachment. This cooperation is a valuable feature of my invention. During the descent of the upper part of the die the bearing-plate 28 strikes the head-plate 13 and the ball-bearing receives no thrust or blow. During its ascent the bearing-plate 2S lifts the head-plate 13 by exerting an upward thrust on the washer 32 through the balls 31, thus lifting the headplate and allowing the turning-post 12 to turn it freely on the ball-bearings.

With suitable forms of sleeves, posts, &c., this die will make a great ,yariety of buttons and greatly diminish the time needed in man ufacture.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a die, a set of upper die parts, a set of lower stationary die parts cooperating therewith mounted immovably on a base, a turning device associated with said base operating to reverse one of said sets of die parts, vertical and spiral grooves in said turning device, a switching guide, and rollers cooperating therewith.

2. In combination, a punch-holder, a headplate, a turning device therefor, plunger sleeves and shanks mounted on said headplate, a tube, tubecenter, post-sleeve, and post cooperating with said plunger sleeves and shanks, a hole in said head-plate, and a spring therein, whereby a pin may be substituted for one of said plunger sleeves and shanks, and cooperate with said tube and center, and upon turning, passing upward into said hole against said spring, thereby escaping interference with said post.

3. In combination, a punch-holder, a headplate, a turning device therefor, plunger sleeves and shanks mounted on said head-- plate, a tube, tube-center, post-sleeve, and post cooperating with said plunger sleeves and shanks, and a hole in said head-plate, whereby a pin maybe substituted for one of said plunger sleeves and shanks, and cooperate with said tube and center, and upon turning, passing upward into said hole thereby escaping interference with said post.

at. In combination, a base, apunch-holder, a head-plate, a turning device therefor consisting in a rod with straight and spiral grooves mounted on said head-plate and rollers or studs on said base working in said grooves, plunger sleeves and shanks mounted on said head-plate, a tube, tube-center, post-sleeve and post cooperating with said plunger sleeves and shanks.

5. In a die, a base, a set of die parts mounted thereon, an ascending and descending head-plate carrying a complementary set of die parts, and a pivotal rod mounted on said head-plate and passing through a hole in said base, straight and spiral grooves in said rod, spring-pressed rollers or studs journaled in said base and projecting into said grooves, and switching-guides in said grooves, said studs riding over said guides when the rod is traveling in one direction, and being deflected or switched into the spiral grooves by said guides, thus turning said roller when it is traveling in the other direction.

6. In a die, a punch-holder adapted to be attached to the press, a head-plate carrying a bearing washer or plate 32 hung on rolling bearings which in turn are supported on the upper side of a bearing-plate 28 fixed to the punch-holder, and die parts mounted on said head-plate each cooperating with a plurality of stationary die parts, and adapted to be shifted from one to another.

7. In a die, a punch-holder carrying a bearing-plate, a head-plate carrying a bearing- Washer between two end-thrust bearings, a rolling bearing on its under side, and a direct plate bearing on its upper side to exert the thrust for die-work, and die parts mounted on said head'plate each cooperating with a plurality of stationary die parts.

8. In a die, a punch-holder carrying a bearing-plate, a head-plate carrying a bearingwasher between two end-thrust bearings, a rolling bearing on its underside and a direct plate, bearing on its upper side to exert the thrust for die-work, and die parts mounted on said head-plate each cooperating with a plurality of stationary die parts, and a turning device for said head-plate and die parts thereon.

9. In a die, a punch-holder carrying a bear ing-plate, a head-plate carrying a bearingwasher between two end-thrust bearings, a rolling bearing on one side of said washer, and a direct plate on the other side of said washer to exert the thrust for die operations, and die parts mounted on said head-plate, each cooperating with a plurality of stationary die parts.

Signed by me this 12th day of December, 1-898.

JOHN R. BYRNE.

Witnesses:

MYRON FRANCIS HILL, FREDERICK B. HILL. 

